The Types of Cocktail Glasses You Really Need, According to Beverage Experts

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So yous're trying to set up a nice abode bar (long gone are the days of drinking vino out of mugs), just the process is feeling a bit overwhelming. Is there whatsoever difference between a highball and a collins glass? Are those V-shaped martini glasses actually a reasonable matter to ain? What size coupe do you lot need? The good news is that buying cocktail glasses doesn't take to exist all that complicated — or expensive. According to Matt Piacentini, owner of the Up & Upwards, a cocktail bar in the W Village, his team uses just five dissimilar types of cocktail glasses to make virtually of the drinks on its card. Joaquín Simó, partner at Pouring Ribbons and Tales of the Cocktail's American Bartender of the Year in 2012, makes it even simpler. "You can brand 90 percent of drinks in a rocks, a collins, and a good all-purpose cocktail glass."

Regardless of what you make in them, the right cocktail glasses for you are a matter of taste. The first rule of pollex, says David Fudge, co-founder of nonalcoholic-spirit make Aplós, is picking something you would actually savour drinking out of, considering "it's all about elevating the whole experience. For me, when you're drinking out of an antiquarian crystal drinking glass, at that place's something about the drink that's more special, and information technology does sense of taste meliorate."

To help y'all discover your ain perfect matches, we took a deep dive into cocktail glassware, speaking with more than a dozen professional bartenders and boozehounds nearly their go-to pieces of cocktail glassware.

The nigh-recommended cocktail glass was the coupe glass, especially for someone who likes to get creative with the drinks they brand at abode. In most modern cocktail bars, the coupe has dethroned the V-shaped martini glass as the get-to. Information technology holds most vi ounces, which ways you lot're drinking what Piacentini calls a "civilized" amount of booze. (Though if you desire your glassware to be more forgiving of spills, go for a coupe that's vii or eight ounces then the beverage won't come right up to the tiptop edge.) Kimberly Hunter, CEO and founder of Potent Pours, appreciates the wider rim because that "ways lots of garnish. It'due south versatile, too — I can sip Champagne without fear of losing my bubbles."

Coupe glasses are good for cocktails served "upwardly," meaning they've been shaken or stirred with ice and then served chilled, without ice — like a martini — or even "frozé," equally Supergay Spirits co-founder Aaron Thorp suggests. The stem means yous don't heat upward the cocktail with your hand equally y'all sip information technology. And though you tin can spend hundreds of dollars on a gear up of coupe glasses, this probably isn't where yous want to exist spending the bulk of your glassware budget. "A superexpensive coupe glass is only going to be really thin and delicate," says Piacentini, meaning information technology'southward more likely to break.

Libbey Embassy 5.5 oz Champagne Glass

While these are called champagne glasses (and you tin certainly use them for that), Landes thinks they're the ultimate vessel for learning how to make proper cocktails served up at dwelling house. "If you lot're trying to strop in on your skills, size is important," he says. "Information technology'due south an indicator that you've portioned out the right amount of everything." Right at present, they just seem to exist available in big sets — but if you become in with friends, it'south a great investment.

Libbey Capone Speakeasy Coupe Cocktail Glasses

Hunter recommends these speakeasy-style, budget-friendly coupe glasses that she says her "clients adore." They're eight ounces, and so they'll be groovy for those wary of spills or who want more room for garnish.

Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Coupe Glass, 6 Ounces — 6-Pack

Thorp prefers a classic set to the fancy or trendy options out in that location. This one gets the task done, and because it comes in a six-pack for only $forty, yous're not breaking the bank.

CB2 Float Coupe Cocktail Glass

Evie Negri-Albert, best known on TikTok and Instagram equally Drinks by Evie, prefers something a niggling more upscale to the traditional coupe glass. These accept a delicate but slightly dramatic shape, then if you're looking for something Instagram friendly (or to impress guests), these might be the best selection for y'all.

CB2 Eve Coupe Cocktail Glass

Negri-Albert besides recommends these textured glasses. They're ten ounces, which is four ounces to a higher place almost expert recommendations, and so you'll have plenty of room for garnish — and peace of mind that you probably won't spill hands. (Correct at present, they're on backorder, but CB2 will send them to you as soon as they get bachelor.)

Sir/Madam Rialto Glass Coupe in Crème

If you practise, however, want to splurge, consider these showstoppers. Jessica Manley, the other co-founder of Aplós, is of the mind-prepare that yous should exist excited by the glassware you use, and she's drawn to the spunky, colored glasses Sir/Madam creates. These have a nice vintage vibe to them, and in unique colors like "moon glow," "menthe," and "salmon," they double as kitchen décor. And non only are they made of a sturdy drinking glass, simply they're even dishwasher rubber.

Estelle Colored Glass Champagne Coupe

Tiffanie Barriere, founder of the Drinking Motorcoach, calls these glasses "some of the best cocktail coupes I've seen in my unabridged life." The vi-piece prepare comes in bluish, pink, or dark-green and is handblown in Poland — which explains the cost tag. If you'd similar to spend a fiddling less, these colored coupes from West Elm might exist a practiced alternative.

Schott Zwiesel Classico Martini Glass

For his part, Landes thinks the V-shaped classic martini spectacles are due for a comeback. "They fell out of vogue, equally things do," he says, "but it's so funny that people claim they're hard to drinkable out of. If annihilation, they're easier. The drink pours right into your mouth with the smallest of an angle change."

A single rocks glass is "going to be for annihilation dandy, any spirit on the rocks," explains Piacentini, though you could too apply it for stirred, chilled, spirituous cocktails served "downwardly," pregnant they're served chilled but in a glass without a stem. One such case is a Negroni, points out John Sergentakis — the regional sales manager for Nolet's Gin — made with gin, sugariness vermouth, and Campari. Piacentini besides prefers these rocks spectacles to snifters for brandy, since you're able to more than easily smell the aromas.

The platonic single rocks glass is "somewhere between eight and 10 ounces," says Simó. "That's enough where you could put a decent-size chunk of ice in there if you lot similar making the fancy water ice." And if y'all're going to splash out on ane part of your glassware setup, get in the rocks glasses. "Those are the glasses where you lot're nearly probable to have the drink that'll accept y'all the longest to drink," says Piacentini. "You don't sit dorsum in a comfy leather chair with an up drink and sit down there for 45 minutes with it, but you will if it's something nice and stirred on a big piece of ice. Information technology'll terminal for that long." So it'due south worthwhile to splurge on a heavy-bottomed rocks glass that feels balanced and good in your paw.

Ikea Frasera Glass

Even though our experts call back that rocks glasses are completely worth spending your money on, it never hurts to explore a budget selection. "I'chiliad not afraid to say that Ikea does information technology right," says Barriere. "They're consistent, and you're non so angry when you break one — you just go get some more, and information technology's fine. I beloved that." This is a ten-ounce drinking glass, so it's on the larger side for single rocks glasses. And the ridges make it look a chip more special than but a regular glass. "People will say, 'Oh, I actually like that glass,'" and I'll say, 'Ikea,' and they'll exist very impressed," Barriere adds.

Estelle Colored Glass Rocks Glass

Barriere raved about its coupe spectacles but notes that the company has other options, like wine spectacles with and without stems and these rocks glasses. This sophisticated set is inspired by vintage glassware, and cheers to the high-quality drinking glass, they're sure to last.

Nude Glass Big Top Set of 4 Whisky SOF Glasses

Negri-Albert agrees that rocks glasses are "extremely important for some of the most classic cocktails," and if she's going to spend the money on new spectacles, she heads to Nude Glass. She'southward especially fond of this ridged selection, just if y'all'd similar something a little more plainly (and less expensive), the make has lovely options for that, too.

Kimura Glass Barber A03 Gift Box

A double rocks drinking glass, besides sometimes called a double former-fashioned, should only be about 2 ounces bigger than a single rocks drinking glass, not twice the size. Jake Ireland, CEO and founder of bourbon brand Off Hours, keeps this style of glass on his own bar, noting it works for "any way you take your bourbon — neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail." Considering of the larger size, information technology's a touch more versatile than the unmarried rocks glass, since it tin can fit more. "We would practice a julep in those — crushed ice all the way. Only when you need a little more room, or you lot've got a drink like an sometime-fashioned or a Manhattan on the rocks," says Piacentini. Y'all could also put margaritas in these glasses instead of getting a dedicated margarita glass. That'due south why, if you're only going to become i type of rocks glass, the double rocks glass is generally more versatile.

CB2 Watson Double Old-Fashioned Glasses

Ireland calls this CB2 prepare "affordable and modernistic withal classic at the aforementioned fourth dimension." The glasses come in a set of viii, then you'll have plenty for post-pandemic dinner parties. And even though they are on the inexpensive side, Ireland promises they're nonetheless high quality.

CB2 Buchanan Stacking Double Old-Fashioned Glasses

If you lot're tight on space, these CB2 glasses, which come recommended by Negri-Albert, can be stacked up, so they'll have up less room on your bar or bar cart. And while they're convenient, they're still nice-looking and mature.

CB2 Hendricks Double Old-Fashioned Glass

Hunter says she's "literally drooling over just nearly all" of the spectacles at CB2, merely she's particularly fatigued to this one, because the wide mouth of this drinking glass gives "room for garnishing the summit of the drinking glass." If you lot're feeling fancy, she adds, "you can also garnish the outside of the glass for an elevated cocktail look."

Libbey Carats 12-Ounce Double Old-Fashioned Glass

"I similar something super-commonsensical for a double rocks glass with understated style," says Thorp. These Libbey glasses fit the bill for him because they're archetype-looking and functional. Plus they're actually a dandy bargain — you lot get 12 glasses for $50, with each glass coming out to just over $four.

Andrew O. Hughes Handblown Double Old-Fashioned Clear Glass

At $50 a pop, these are a chip of a splurge, but Republic of ireland promises they will "terminal a lifetime." He notes that they're handblown by Andrew Hughes himself in Brooklyn, so each one is custom.

There is technically a difference between a highball and a collins glass: "A highball is a tall, skinny glass. A collins is just a taller glass," Piacentini says. Collins glasses are commonly a couple ounces larger than a highball, but only due to the additional height. But in that location's actually no demand to become into the weeds on this one — Negri-Albert says the terms are interchangeable in the drink earth, so yous don't really need to go both for your dwelling house.

These alpine, chimney-shaped glasses are expert for gin-and-tonics, vodka-sodas, and whiskey and gingers but tin be repurposed for tiki drinks made with crushed ice. They're also "super-acceptable for nonalcoholic drinks," adds Negri-Albert. Equally far as size is concerned, bigger isn't necessarily better. "You lot don't want a 16-ounce collins drinking glass, because you lot're going to be hammered after your second Tom Collins," says Simó. "Get well-nigh a 12-ounce highball or a collins glass, and you lot'll exist fine." If yous're still unsure, become for the highball. "As a bartender, I would say ninety percent of my drinks were poured in a highball glass," estimates Sergentakis.

Kimura Glass Compact Tumbler

"My favorite highballs are from Kimura," says Thorp about this Tokyo-based make that also comes recommended by Fudge. "While they're expensive, they're stunning to utilize considering they feel weightless in your hand." The company has been making glasses for over 100 years, and information technology actually supplies glass for unlike bars and restaurants effectually the world, so if you're looking for truthful bar-quality glasses, these are probably a good pick. The brand also offers hundreds of other glass types — from coupe to wine glasses — so you can shop for more than just highball-style pieces.

Nude Glass Savage Set of 4 Highball Glasses

If you like the style of the Kimura Glass options — just not the price — this Nude Drinking glass set recommended by Negri-Albert is quite like. Information technology's not equally thin or delicate, just it is less than half the toll.

Crate & Barrel Vance Cut-Glass Highball Glass

Negri-Albert likes this uncomplicated and elegant highball glass. It'south too function of a full drove, so you can outfit your whole bar with this cut-line style.

CB2 Cirque Cooler

Like most CB2 options, these glasses are affordable and easy to supercede while yet being nice-looking. While they have a heavy base of operations, the walls are nonetheless thin, so they experience a bit higher quality.

Ferm Living Ripple Long Drink Glasses

"The ripple glass was the glass of 2020," says Landes (though that doesn't hateful they don't await just as good in 2021). It seemed like everyone was buying (and companies were knocking off) this way. They look sophisticated, but with a bit of intrigue from the textured sides and unlike-size bases.

Nick and Nora spectacles are starting to become every bit common in craft-cocktail bars as coupes. "Nick and Noras are more bell shaped, in between a coupe glass and a very modest vino glass," says Piacentini. "In a perfect world, I dear Nick and Nora glasses for stirred-upwardly drinks and coupe glasses for shaken-upwards drinks," because the smaller Nick and Nora glasses fit three to four ounces of liquid perfectly. Though if you are looking to go on your glassware to a minimum, there'southward zippo you would serve in a Nick and Nora glass that you couldn't also serve in a nice coupe. Nick and Noras are also more often than not a little fleck more specialized and therefore harder to source.

Crate & Barrel Nick and Nora Glass

Landes notes that Crate & Butt "exercise a good chore of staying on trend." He's peculiarly addicted of the brand's Nick and Nora spectacles. They feel more than refined in terms of "density and shape" than a lot of the models you find in eating place catalogues — and they leave a bit of room for garnish at the top.

Bormioli Rocco Italian Classic Cocktail Glasses

We too like this set of four glasses from Food52. You can purchase a "total bar" prepare, as well, which is xvi spectacles and comes with coupe, martini, fizz, and Nick and Nora glasses.

Xaquixe Apasco Tumbler M

Shelley Kleyn Armistead, a partner at Gjelina Group who is in accuse of the interior design and tableware, recommended the tumbler size of these glasses for a roundup we did on the best drinking spectacles — but the grouping actually uses the medium ones for margaritas at its restaurants. If y'all desire something versatile that tin can be used both for bar and kitchen, these sustainably made beauties are a swell pick. They're currently available for preorder.

Viski Deco Crystal Highball Glasses

"Tiki glasses can sometimes lean theatrical," says Landes, "until you lot meet Viski." These glasses somehow read equally sophisticated, even with details like carved-out faces, unlike-sized bubble ridges, and gilded armor. "They're elegant and fun at the same time," Landes says. The Crystal Highball glasses he pointed to in particular are currently sold out, though yous tin get notified when they become available — and shop the brand's other delightful options in the concurrently.

Libbey Tiki Pineapple Glasses

Libbey strikes over again, this time in the form of a (relatively) understated pineapple-patterned tiki glass, recommended by Chockie Tom, founder of the pop-upwardly Doom Tiki.

"It's a little up to personal gustation," says Piacentini, who doesn't like the "traditional shot glass that'southward chubby and broad and has the line around it." Sergentakis likes any style as long as it'south glass. What both Piacentini and Sergentakis hold on is that a shot glass should never be filled all the mode to the top, and information technology should be big enough and so that you don't spill. "If yous go an ounce shot glass, it gets messy," notes Sergentakis. "Ounce-and-a-half shot glass, and I'd recommend you pour an ounce in it so you've got a little room to cheers."

Crate & Barrel Bitty Bite Tall Glasses

This ready of eight is from sturdy drinking glass. They say less "higher frat party" and more like "adults having a good time."

Mamo Single 7:2 Multipurpose Glass

These glasses were mentioned in a holiday-political party piece we published last month by event planner Lilli Sherman, and they're and so gorgeous, they're definitely worth a spot on this list. Each one actually doubles as a cocktail drinking glass (the bigger size) and a shot glass (the smaller size), then it's a two-for-one deal wrapped up in a display-worth drinking vessel. Sherman likes to employ hers for sipping amaro and other digestifs, also.

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The 9 Types of Cocktail Spectacles You Demand at Home